Monday, 25 April 2016

Bellanca Super Viking 300 ZK-VIX - first of type

New Zealand's first Bellanca 17-30A Super Viking is nearing completion at Parakai/West Auckland Airport following an extensive rebuild by owner George Richards.

ZK-VIX is a 1979 example wearing the serial number 79-30944. The NZCAA type acceptance report, issued earlier this month, details the specifics of the Viking noting it is a four-seat, low-wing single-engined retractable light aircraft with tubular steel and fabric-covered fuselage and wooden wings.

This example started life as N28045 and has for the last 20 years languished at Van Nuys, CA following the second owner's attempt to repaint the aircraft which was to include fabric strip and re-cover. Circumstances outside the owners control precluded the job from being completed. The NZ owner found the aircraft while in the USA flying his Falco ZK-SMR to the EAA Airventure Oshkosh show in 2012.